Darwin - Why is it so confusing?!

So. while I was reading Darwin, I began to realize that time seemed to slow down at an incredible rate...i realized, however, why this is so...the material is so dense and full of fact and theory and calculation that it takes much much much longer to read. Skipping one sentence can disrupt your entire interpretation of his theories and observations.

Example - "But this is a very false view: we forget that each species, een where it most abounds, is constantly suffering enormous destruction at some period of its life, from enemies or from competitors for the same place and food; and if these enemies or competitors be in the least degree favoured by any slight change of climate, they will increase in numbers, and, as each area is already fully stocked with inhabitants, the other species will decrease."

That is almost impossible to read quickly. This book forces you to go through it word by word, sentence by sentence. There is no opportunity for scanning, skipping, skimming, or speed-reading.

Perhaps this is why Darwin is so intimidating. That, and his knowledge of the world and the workings of humans, animals, ecosystems, and life itself is so vast and great, that it makes me feel a little lame and kind of pointless when I read it. But maybe by reading this, my knowledge will be increased so that I could at least have an intelligent conversation with him. Were he still alive.